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Document 6.2 7KHWest Midlands Rail Freight Interchange Order 201X Technical Appendix 12.4 - Cannock Chase AONB Management Plan Regulation 5(2)(a) DEFRA Four Ashes Ltd CANNOCK CHASE CANNOCK CHASE Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2014–2019 Figure 1 Cannock Chase AONB 01230.5 Kilometres This product includes mapping data licensed from Ordnance Survey with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown copyright and /or database right 2014. All rights reserved. Licence Number 100019422. Produced by Rural County, Staffordshire County Council, 2014 5 Management Plan 2014–2019 Landscape Character and People in the AONB This section sets out the landscape character areas SEO 3: Conserve and enhance the essential character within the AONB and factors affecting them. These of this varied landscape, which includes the Cannock factors are identified as Key Issues. The Key Issues Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Forest fall into two categories and show “there is a problem of Mercia and the urban conurbation of the Black with…..” and “there is an opportunity to….”. Country, to maintain food and timber production The basis of AONB designation is the special nature where possible; enhance landscape, sense of place and of the landscape and a description of this is provided tranquillity; and increase resilience to climate change. by Landscape Character Assessment. This identifies Also developed during the last Management Plan the features giving a locality its sense of place and period are historic environment character assessments. provides a framework for describing an area. It involves Whilst the landscape character assessments that a desk study and field survey and then a description form the baseline for previous Management Plans and mapping of the landscape to divide it into areas remain valid, it will be necessary to ensure that of common character. It enables different interest all the assessments are brought together and the groups to make better judgements by knowing what most up to date information used. This exercise is is present and what is distinctive, so any change can therefore identified as a key action for delivery in this respect local character. A number of specifically local Management Plan. landscape character assessments cover Cannock Chase AONB. These have formed the baseline of the last two For ease of delivery, the Partnership has split its work Management Plans. into five themes. Each of the five themes relates back to the High Level Objectives in Section 1 and an aspect At the time of preparing this Management Plan, of the AONB’s ecosystems. Much of the content could landscape character assessments are being up-dated be classified in a number of the themes but each only for Staffordshire. During the delivery of this Plan appears once within the Management Plan. the baseline landscape character assessments will therefore be reviewed against the new information. The themes are: During the 2009-14 Management Plan period National LANDSCAPE Everything relating to the visual and Character Area profiles were developed by Natural physical aspects of the area and its England. National Character Areas (NCAs) divide biodiversity, geodiversity and historic England into 159 distinct natural areas. Each is defined character. by a unique combination of landscape, biodiversity, PEOPLE Everything relating to people’s geodiversity and cultural and economic activity. Their understanding and awareness of the boundaries follow natural lines in the landscape area, including how their behaviour rather than administrative boundaries, making them can impact the AONB. a good decision making framework for the natural ECONOMY All financial factors and links environment. 67 – Cannock Chase and Cank Wood affecting the work of this applies to this AONB. Management Plan. The NCA identifies three principal environmental RECREATION Everything relating to those who opportunities, all of which are relevant to this come to enjoy activities within the Management Plan but particularly SEO 3: area and those who provide services SEO 1: Expand lowland heathland to increase habitat to support those activities. connectivity, improve resilience to climate change and SUPPORT Infrastructure and external factors improve water quality. that we must respond to for Management Plan delivery. SEO 2: Manage, enhance and expand the network of green infrastructure, such as woodlands, restored It should be noted that all references to objectives, mining sites, parklands and canal routes, to increase policies and actions relate to the Cannock Chase AONB biodiversity, access and recreational use and increase area. This wording has therefore not been repeated understanding of the area’s rich industrial heritage, throughout the Management Plan but is assumed. particularly geodiversity. 10 Overview of Cannock Chase AONB In England and Wales, those landscapes considered Locally most valuable are protected as National Parks or Areas Cannock Chase AONB was designated in 1958 under of Outstanding Natural Beauty. These landscapes the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act are protected and managed by law to maintain their 1949. It is the smallest mainland AONB at 68 km2 special character for now and the future. AONBs (26 square miles). Its 13 parish and town councils fall are designated by Natural England. The purpose of into four districts and one county local authority. The designation as an AONB is to conserve and enhance area includes three Local Nature Reserves, as well as the natural beauty (which includes wildlife and two working quarries and a wide range of historical cultural heritage, as well as scenery) of the area. features. AONBs are human-influenced, cultural, living and working landscapes. Their special characteristics Malvern Hills, Shropshire Hills, the Cotswolds and often depend on enlightened and sensitive human Wye Valley AONBs and the Peak District National Park management and policy making, as do their are the nearest neighbouring protected landscapes. habitats, with the associated flora and fauna, which Cannock Chase is relatively geographically isolated as characterise and give local distinctiveness to the an accessible area of high environmental quality and AONB. surrounded by many urban areas. Designation Nationally Cannock Chase AONB was designated for its high Cannock Chase AONB is part of a family of 46 AONBs landscape quality, scientific interest and recreational in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The National value as one of 47 areas listed in the Report of the Association for AONBs (NAAONB) is an independent National Parks Committee in 1947. It consisted mainly organisation which acts on behalf of AONBs. The area of extensive heathland and coniferous plantation includes five Sites of Special Scientific Interest and six on an elevated plateau of Triassic sandstones and Scheduled Monuments. pebble beds, surrounded by large villages, collieries Internationally and historic parkland. Much of the heathland area presents an unspoilt almost semi-wilderness character, Cannock Chase AONB also has an international standing in contrast to the surrounding developments. dimension and importance. The World Conservation The Minister confirmed the Designation Order on 16 Union (the IUCN) confirmed Cannock Chase AONB as September 1958. meeting its Category V Protected Landscapes status in July 2013. These are areas that have “a clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values”. A commitment to maintain an appropriate Management Plan and the protection of biodiversity has been made by the AONB Partnership to retain this status. Cannock Chase AONB’s heathland resource is internationally important, reflected in 1237 ha of the SSSI being designated a Special Area for Conservation, under the European Habitats Directive. For this reason, activity affecting that area must undergo Appropriate Assessment as part of the implementation of the Directive to ensure no negative impact to it. 11 Management Plan 2014–2019 Figure 2 - Local authorities, parishes and town council boundaries Tixall with Ingestre District Boundary South Staffordshire District Stafford District Berkswich Cannock Chase District Lichfield District Colwich Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Boundary Brocton Rugeley Brereton and Acton Trussell, Brindley Heath Ravenhill Bednall and Teddesley Hay Longdon Hednesford Huntington Cannock Wood Community around Prospect Village and Rawnsley Longdon Hatherton 0120.5 Kilometres This product includes mapping data licensed from Ordnance Survey with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown copyright and /or database right 2014. All rights reserved. Licence Number 100019422. Produced by Rural County, Staffordshire County Council, 2014 12 Figure 3 - Landscape Character Areas Forestry land Open Ancient semi - Hills natural woodland and Heaths STAFFORD Heathland Farmed Sandstone Hills and Heaths Settled Plateau Farmlands Sandstone Estatelands Clay Estatelands Trent Valley Floodplain Designed Parkland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty boundary RUGELEY PYE GREEN HEDNESFORD CANNOCK This product includes mapping data licensed from Ordnance Survey with the permission of Her Majesty's Stationery Oce 01234Km © Crown Copyright and/or database right 2014. All rights reserved. License Number